The Buzz

Magic - The Buzz

April 12, 2002|By Tim Povtak, Sentinel Staff Writer

MILLER RETURNS AND STARTS

Mike Miller wasn't 100 percent ready to play after missing the previous three games with a sprained left ankle, but he returned and started anyway Thursday night, hoping to rediscover his rhythm before the playoffs begin. "I'm about 80 percent physically,'' he said after a Thursday morning workout. "But I will need a few games to get my rhythm back, and I was running out of time. I didn't want to wait until the playoffs to start playing again. I needed some time on the floor.''

MCGRADY LIKES KIDD FOR MVP

Tracy McGrady said Thursday he is through thinking about the race for the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award, even if the fans aren't. The Magic handed out 15,000 Tracy McGrady for MVP posters Thursday night at the Waterhouse Centre.

"Jason Kidd is the MVP,'' McGrady said before the game. "I don't have anything to prove at this point. I'll get my chance to win it next year.''

JACKSON SIGNED FOR SEASON

Jaren Jackson, who came to the Magic on a 10-day contract April 2, has been signed for the rest of the season. Jackson played in five games, averaging 5.4 points and 2.2 rebounds. He played eight minutes and failed to score Thursday.

BRIEFLY

Darrell Armstrong will host the Celebrity Billiards Tournament on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. at Clicks Billiards in Casselberry. There will be 64 participants playing in a double-elimination format with the top eight advancing to the finals. All proceeds will be divided among Armstrong's Foundation for Premature Babies and Stay Alive From Education (SAFE). . . . Melissa Aaron of Cypress Creek High and Kadian Roberts of Oak Ridge High received college scholarships this week as part of the RDV Sports scholarship program. Aaron won the $20,000 UCF Minority Scholarship over four years. Roberts won the $4,000 Magic Achiever Scholarship.